The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has arraigned Mrs. Christiana Goka, a former Deputy Director in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is accused of misappropriating public funds totaling Five Million, Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand, Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira (N5,398,656).
Mrs. Goka, who was also the Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), appeared before Justice J.A. Aina at the Federal Capital Territory High Court in Kwali, Abuja. She faces five charges related to the misappropriation of funds and providing false statements.
The charges claim that Mrs. Goka misappropriated N5,164,656 from funds set aside for a failed management retreat of the Ministry in Dutse, Jigawa State, in 2017. One of the charges states:
“That you, Mrs. Christiana Goka ‘F’, sometime in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving as the Deputy Director and Head of the Department of Research Monitoring Information System at the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki, Abuja, Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court, did confer a corrupt advantage upon yourself in the sum of N5,164,656.00 (Five Million One Hundred and Sixty-Four Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira), which was part of the larger sum of N5,398,656.00 (Five Million Three Hundred and Ninety-Eight Thousand Six Hundred and Fifty-Six Naira) meant for the Botched Management Retreat at Dutse, Jigawa State in 2017, and you thereby committed an offence contrary to and punishable under Section 19 of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
Another charge states:
“That you, Mrs. Christiana Goka ‘F’, sometimes in 2017 or thereabout, being a public officer serving as the Deputy Director and Head of Department Research Monitoring-Information System in the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA), Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Garki Abuja Federal Capital Territory, within the jurisdiction of this Honorable Court did make a statement on 18/02/22 to Sado Danjuma, an officer of the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission while in the course of exercising his duties of investigation, in which you made a statement to wit – that the sum of N1,000,000.00 (One Million Naira) returned to you in cash by one Bassey Ikpeme on the instruction of the then Director General of DTCA, Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman (now late) was false and never happened, which statement to your knowledge is false and thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 25(1)(a) and punishable under Section 25(1)(b) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.”
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Mrs. Goka is also accused of providing false information to an ICPC investigator by denying that she received N1,000,000 in cash, which was allegedly returned to her on the instruction of the late Ambassador Abduljalil Suleiman, the then-Director General of DTCA.
The trial began on March 27, 2025. Prosecution counsel David Nwaze called two witnesses who testified and were cross-examined. This conduct is an offence under Section 25(1)(a) of the Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Act, 2000.
The court previously granted Mrs. Goka bail under the same conditions as her administrative bail. She was allowed to remain on these terms after pleading not guilty to all charges read to her.
As part of her bail conditions, she must provide a surety employed in the Federal Republic of Nigeria at Grade Level 15 or above and residing in Abuja. The surety is required to submit a letter of appointment, proof of last promotion, an identity card, and a passport photograph.
Justice J.A. Aina has adjourned the case to June 5, 2025, for the continuation of the trial. The ICPC arraign Mrs. Christiana Goka marks a significant step in the fight against corruption in Nigeria.
